Manuel Vicario

Manuel Vicario was born in 1956 in Madrid Spain. His artistic career began in the waiting room of the hospital where his mother stayed during much of his childhood. His mother's doctor - Juan Antoniop Vallejo-Nagera, noticed his talent and became the first to encourage his skills with a gift of sketchbooks and colored conti pencils. From this point, Vicario's love for drawing and painting has been consistent.

In 1977 he began classical Academic studies with the master realist painter A. Mesa in Madrid until 1979. Mesa's classical teachings allowed Vicario to transfer his drawing skills to paint.

An interest in a more minimalist application of color led Vicario to the studios of Don Hubert to study lithography in 1983. Soon after he began to experiment with different methods to find his own rhythm with classes in pottery and sculpture. Vicario's desire to paint with more immediate expressionism led him to the studio of Jose Guerrero in New York City. It was here that Vicario allowed himself to break away from tradition to a more abstract application.

During a solo exhibition, Correos-The King of Spain, attended his opening at the Galeria Rafael in de Valladolid. Finding the essence in every painting, sesitive line, conceptual energy, and expressionistic simplicity. One of the many art reviews written about Vicario's work was from the critico de arte journalist - Pedro P. Garcia.

"Vicario style has a double reading. In one way, we can see his academic formation, and the knowledge of Art History, while at the same time transforming these ideas to adapt to his own personality, where the soft and strong tones come together in harmony, reading a perfect quality. The composition done in the style of 'efumato' can dilute and vanish giving the sensation of mystery and distance."

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Awards

1979 - Mention of Honor in the National Competition of Painting City of Getafe
1980 - Second Prize in the National Competition of Painting, City of Getafe
1980 - Second Prize, Competition National of Painting, City of Manzanares
1984 - First Prize, City Hall of Getafe

Vicario has now chosen not to enter any more competitions.

Exhibitions

1978 - Sala del Club de Arte de Madrid
1979 - Sala de Exposiciones se la CAMP, Manzanares, (Ciudad Real)
1979-present - Gallery Toison, Madrid
1981 - Gallery, Mercurio, Madrid
1981 - Art Gallery of Miraflores, Madrid
1983 - Centro Sociocultural Joan Miro, De Mostoles
1984 - Centro Municipal de Casasiomarro, Cuenca
1984 - Centro Cultural de la Villa de Madrid
1984 - Circulo de Bellas Artes, de Madrid-Clausura Talleres Arte Actual
1984 - Centre d'Art, de Paris
1986 - Courbet Gallery, de Jaen
1989 - Galeria Hautefruille, de Paris
1990 - Galeria Daimaru, de Tokio
1991 - Sala de exposiciones del H. San Jose
1992-present - Galeria Rafael, de Valladolid
1993 - Galeria Arles, de Madrid
1993 - Sala Wellington, de Madrid
1995 -Galerie Aries, de Madrid - ArteSantander
1997 - Galeria Thomas Moral, de Madrid
1999 - Galeria Victoria Hidalgo, de Madrid
2000 - Group exhibitions at Galerie Toison and Galerie Rafael
2001 - Galeria Victoria Hidalgo, de Madrid
2002-2003 - Art Expo New York